One of the oldest ministries in Nigeria is Health, because of its importance to the well-being of the country. This isn’t peculiar to Nigeria alone, health ministry plays a crucial role in other countries around the world.
In Nigeria, the ministry is behind the formulation and implementation of health-related policies.
Composition of Nigeria’s Health Ministry
Composed of nine departments, six unis, and seven agencies, it is made up of different aspects of health care.
While the departments play different roles ranging from awareness to massive vaccination against diseases, the agencies do most of the health-related research.
Agencies:
Below are the agencies or parastatal in Nigeria’s health ministry and their core mandates:
- Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC)
- The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA)
- National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
- National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS)
- Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR)
- National Agency for Control of AIDs (NACA)
- National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD)
- Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN)
| Agency | Core Mandate | Year of Establishment |
| NCDC | To detect, alert Nigerians and respond swiftly to any form of communicable disease in Nigeria | 2011 |
| NPHCDA | To provide technical support to states, LGAs, and other stakeholders in the functioning, planning, implementation, supervision and monitoring of Primary Health Care services in Nigeria. | 1992 |
| NAFDAC | To regulate and control the manufacture, importation, exportation, distribution, advertisement, sale and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, chemicals, medical devices and packaged water in Nigeria. To alert Nigerians about adulterated drugs in Nigeria in a situation where such drugs found their way into Nigeria. | January 1993 |
| NHIS | To provide social health insurance for Nigerians.
Note: It failed due to corruption. |
June 2005 |
| NIPRD | To develop drugs, biological products, and pharmaceutical raw materials so as to reduce reliance on imported pharmaceutical products | 1987 |
| NIMR | To conduct research into health problems in Nigeria in the areas of communicable diseases | 1977 |
| NACA | To facilitate the engagement of all tiers of government and all sectors on issues of HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support in Nigeria | February 2000 |
| MLSCN | To regulate the training of Technicians, Scientists, and Assistants in any institutions in Nigeria and give periodic accreditation to institutions. | 2003 |
Located at Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase III, Shehu Shagari Way, Central Business District. Abuja .FCT – Nigeria, the Ministry of Health also has federal medical centres and federal teaching hospitals under it coordination.
